Assistant Programme Officer – UNHCR jobs in Kenya

• Location: Nairobi, Kenya
• Vacancy No: N/A 
• Salary: N/A
• Organization: UNHCR
• Gender: Both
• Deadline: February 22, 2024

The Assistant Programme Officer will support the provision of programmatic guidance and support with regard to the implementation of protection and solutions strategies within available resources. The incumbent will play a role in coordinating with the other sections/units to ensure harmonized programmatic approaches at all levels and throughout the UNHCR Operations Management Cycle. S/he will work in line with the overall UNHCR directions which crucially require working with partners, including with persons of concern, governmental institutions and the private sector, ensuring that programme management is approached as per UNHCR¿s Strategic Directions, Global Strategic Priorities (GSPs), Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), corporate positions on SDGs.
The incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach as defined within the Program Manual, ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders in all phases of the Program Management Cycle.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
– Support in assessing and analysing the needs of persons of concern in a participatory manner, using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective as basis for planning
– Provide support on programmatic aspects of developing multi-year protection and solutions strategies and annual plans with corresponding priorities taking into account corporate priorities
– Support Results Based Management and programme capacity in light of evolving requirements, programming approaches and gaps,
– Assist the planning process in compliance with planning parameters outlined in the Programme Manual and the planning instructions
– Contribute to the review and analyse of plans, mid-year and year-end reports of UNHCR offices in the region, ensuring quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards.
– Assist with the provision of overall direction to broaden partnerships with key stakeholders in order to maximize the protection and solutions response for persons of concern.
– Contribute to the successful application of the framework for implementing with partners, including the effective implementation of the policy on selection and retention of partners, management of partnership agreements, risk-based project performance monitoring, and risk-based project audits, among others.
– Contribute to ensure consistent and coherent monitoring approaches, tools and systems within the Area of Responsibility (AoR), in line with global standards and polices.
– Actively contribute to UNHCRs programming of community of practice and continuously contribute to improvements of programming tools and processes.
– Identify potential gaps and problems and in cooperation with other relevant sections recommend appropriate solutions to ensure the efficient implementation of programme activities
– Assist in a timely and effective follow-up of internal and external audits observations and recommendations that relate to programmatic issues.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA – 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Economics

Business Administration

Social Sciences
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified

Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Demonstrated experience in programme management including familiarization with the OMC and sound knowledge Results Based-Management. Demonstrated experience in field operations, sound knowledge on the centrality of protection in programming, Joint Needs Assessments and the principles of targeting.

Desirable:
Demonstrated experience in coordination within an inter-agency context and other actors, in a refugee or humanitarian context. Sound experience in program management training and capacity building activities.

Functional Skills
PG-UNHCR’s Programmes
PG-Results-Based Management
PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate)
PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

The incumbent will be required to have good coordination, networking and drafting skills, and the ability to interact with different partners and stakeholders both within and outside UNHCR.
S/He will be required to have solid technical programming skills, as well as experience from coordination of partners and networking. Excellent drafting skills are a must, in addition to Excel and the new PROMS software.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

Nature of Position:

Kenya remains the fifth largest host country in Africa and thirteenth biggest asylum country in the world. At the end of 2023, the total number of refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya stood at over 692,000. In addition, UNHCR worked on ending statelessness for some 16,820 persons. UNHCR Kenya Operation maintains three main offices and programmes: Branch Office in Nairobi – Urban refugee programme; two sub-offices and respective programmes in Kakuma and Dadaab. A Joint Refugee Service Centre is operated jointly with the Department of Refugee Services, to provide all protection services to affected populations in Nairobi.

In line with the GCR and the Multi-year Strategy 2023-2026, the operation continues to focus on responding to the continued inflows of refugees from within the region while promoting solutions and working towards the transformation of the refugee response in Kenya in line with the GOK Shirika Plan. The Shirika Plan means a transformative shift towards integration of refugees.  The strategic priorities have been set out in the 2023-2026 Multi Year Strategy. The new model means expanded collaboration with the Government of Kenya at both central and national level, while  gradually transforming the implementation by partners and direct implementation by UNHCR to support this overall transition towards integration.

The Assistant Programme Officer will report to the Senior Programme Officer and will work closely with all the units in the Kenya Country Office, especially the technical support units, supply and also protection and finance. The incumbent will provide support to the two operations in Kakuma and Dadaab, while acting as the focal point for the Urban programme in Nairobi. S/he can be called upon to support UNHCR Kenya engagement in UNSDCF coordination structure and to coordinate reporting on UNHCR activities through the UNINFO. Provide functional support and training for other units including in the Sub-Offices. The incumbent will act as OIC in the absence of the Senior Programme Officer.

Living and Working Conditions:

Nairobi is a good duty station for families. It has good medical facilities and it is the regional medical evacuation centre for countries in the East and Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes sub-regions. Recreational facilities, schools and hotels are of international standards. High standard accommodation is available, as well as good banking facilities, unlimited access to communication means, such as internet, telephone SIM cards etc. In addition, Nairobi is a malaria free environment. but cholera, malaria and yellow fever occur in other parts of Kenya. When entering the country, yellow fever card/vaccine is required. Nairobi is in UN security Level One, but politically instigated demonstrations and riots may occur from time to time. General crime in Nairobi is relatively high, especially in some low income areas, however a high sense of vigilance and alertness is required practically everywhere.

Security Considerations

Politically instigated demonstrations and riots may occur at any time. Hazards such as road traffic accidents, fire, diseases outbreak and flooding are frequent. The crime threat level in Nairobi, like in many other large cities, is high and physical violence is a common feature of burglaries in residences, carjacking and robberies. The terrorism threat level in Nairobi is moderate but is high in North Eastern. A high sense of vigilance and alertness is required at all times. The incumbent will be undertaking occasional travels to the field where different security conditions prevail.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards), PG-Results-Based Management, PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate), PG-UNHCR’s Programmes

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Change capability & adaptability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

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